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' zzessasrw 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. GRBAVBS 8u J. WARDLE. L. STuRTEv Administratorof W. GREAVES, Decease MAG BRY POR RATING GONJOINED STAP FOR GARDING INES.

No. 515,315. Patented Feb. 2Q, 1894.

(No Model.)

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet e W. GREAVES 8v J. WARDLE.

Y G. L STURTEVANT, Administrato of W. GREAvEs, Deceased.

MACHINERY POE OPERATING ON GONJOINED STAPLES .P011

GARDING ENGINES. Nb. 515,315. Patented Peb. 20, 1894.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 4. W.- GREAVES 81; J.. WARDLE. C. L. STURTEVANT, Administratorof W. GREAvEs, Deceased. MACHINERY FOR OPERATING 0N GONJOINED STAPLES FOR GAEDING ENGINES.

(No Model.) v. 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

W. GREAVES & J. WARDLE.

G. L, STURTEVANT, Administrator of W. GREAVES, Deceased. MACHINERY FOR OPERATING ON GONJOINED STAPLES POR GARDING ENGINES. No. 515,315..

J5 B Pgnted Feb. 20, 1894.

WVILLIAM GREAVES AND JOSEPH WARDLE, OF OLDHAM, ENGLAND; CHARLES L. STURTEVANT ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID GREAVES, DECEASED; SAID STURTEVANT, ADMINISTRATOR, ASSIGNOR TO PLATT BROTHERS du CO.,

LIMITED, OF SAME PLACE;

MACHINERY FOR OPERATING N CONJOINED STAPLES FOR CARDING-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 515,315, dated February 20, 1894.

Application filed November 10,1892. Serial No. 451,500. (No model.) v

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM Gnnnvns,

foreman, and JOSEPH VVARDLE, machinist, of

Hartford Old lVorks, Oldham, in the county of Lancaster,England,haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in machinery or apparatus for performing a certain operation upon conjoined staples for securing tops or cards to the metal flats used or employed ro in carding-engines, of which the following is a speciiication.

Our invention consists in a machine for performing a certain operation upon conjoined staples for securing the tops or cards to the metal flats used or employed in carding-engines in order to enable such conjoined staples to secure the edges of the foundations or backs of the topsor cards close to the edges of the metal flats inzo stead of as hitherto leaving the edges of the foundations or backs exposed and liable to be chafed and roughened while the iiats are in use, such conjoined staples being the subject of our application for United States Patent,

Serial No. 450,492, iiled October 31, 1892.

In order that our invention may be more readily understood we will iirst describe the said conjoined staples and then proceed to describe the machine in which the present in- 3o vention consists.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aside view and Fig. 2 an end view of a portion of a continuity of conjoined staples as hitherto employed for securing the tops or cards to the metal flats used or employed in carding-engines. Fig. 3 is an end view, and Fig. 4 a side View of a portion of a continuity of conjoined staples for the preparation of which the machine forming the sub- 4o ject of the present application is intended, and Fig. 5 is a side view, Fig. 6 a plan, and Fig.7 across section illustrating the manner in which lengths of a continuity of conjoined staples made according to our said improvements are employed to secure the cards or tops to metal Hats Fig. Sis a side View, and Fig. 9 an end view of a portion of a continuity of conjoined staples prepared for being operated upon by the machine to be hereinafter described. Figs. 10 and 11 together form a plan, and Figs. 12 and 13, together,a side view of a machine constructed according to our invention for the purpose of enabling our improvements in conjoined staples to be carried into effect. Fig. 14 is a cross section of the said machine taken on the plane indicated by the lines A Aof Figs. 10 and 12, and drawn upon a larger scale. Fig. 15 is a plan drawn upon a larger scale than Figs. 10, 1l, 12 and 13, showing certain parts more clearlythan Fig. 10. Fig. 16 is a cross section taken on the plane indicated by the line B B, of Fig. 15, and Fig. 17 is a plan showing certain parts upon a scale much larger than that upon which they are shown in Fig. 15, in order that the construction and action of such parts may be more fully understood. Fig. 18 is a cross section, and Fig. 19 a partial front View of a portion of the machine aforesaid, showing an alternative manner of accomplishing the feeding7 or moving forward of the continuity of conjoined staples to be operated upon. Fig. 2O is a view of certain parts shown detached for convenience of illustration. The conjoined staples hitherto in use for securing cards or tops to metal iiats7 and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings are formed of wire, and the prongs or legs (d) of such conjoined staples are of the same width as the parts (b) by which one prong or leg (a) is connected to the next. It therefore follows that when conjoined staples of the form above described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are used to secure the top or card to a metal flat by being inserted and clinched in holes formed through the said metal dan portions of the foundation or back of the top or card project beyond the conjoined staples, and although the top or card is securely held to the metal body of the fiat the edges of the foundation or back of such top or card are not held close to the metal body of the flat, and are liable to be chafed or roughened while the dat is in use.

In the improvement in regard to which we have made separate application for Letters Patent the objections or defects above described are remedied by the conjoined staples being made to hold thed edges of the foundation or back of the tops or cards close to the edges of the metal bodies of the Hats to which they are applied while at the same time the prongs or legs of the conjoined staples are passed through holes in the metal bodies of the flats in such manner that the tops or cards will be securely held upon the flats According to the said improvements, we employ for securing tops or cards to metal Hats used in carding-engines, metal wire bent into the form of a continuity of conjoined staples,

but we make such conjoined staples of a form.

which is an improvement upon that illustrated in Figs. l and 2 of the accompanying drawings, and in so doing we employa metal wire rolled, of such width that wh en bent into the form of a series of conjoined staples and inserted in the usual way in order to secure the tops or cards to the dats one of the edges of each of the series of conjoined staples inserted into each flat will be level or flush, or in the same plane with the adjacent planed edge of such flat. y

In order that the legs or prongs of the conjoined staples may be inserted into the holes formedin the iats we reduce the width of such legs or prongs by removing portions from the said legs or prongs in the manner indicated in Figs. 3 and 4E of the accompanying drawings, which show that the legs or prongs (c) of the conjoined staples are of less width than the parts (CZ) by which one leg or prong (c) is connected to the next.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, which illustrate the manner in which lengths of a continuity of conjoined staples having the said improvements applied to them are employed to secure the cards or tops to flats it is shown that while the legs or prongs (c) of the continuity of conjoined staples are sufficiently narrow to be passed through holes formed in the foundation or back of the card or top to be applied to a metal fiat and in the metal fiat itself and clinched at their ends (c) so as to be securely retained in the holes formed in the metal iiat (e), the parts (d) connecting the legs or prongs (c) of the continuity of conjoined staples extend so far as to be level with, iiush with, or in the same plane as the adjacent planed edge of the metal body of the flat. Thus when the superfluous parts of the foundation 0r back of the card or top have been cut away in the usual manner, such foundation or back will nowhere project beyond the continuity of conjoined staples at either edge of the iiat, and .as is indicated in Fig. 6 the parts (d) which connect the legs or prongs (c) of the continuity of conjoined staples to one another, will present a practically continuous strip of metal along each edge of the iiat so as to preserve the edges of the foundation or back of the top or card from being chafed or roughened while the iiat is in use, and cause the flats to present clean and neat edges.

Our present invention consists in a niachine or apparatus by means of which the legs or prongs of the continuity of conjoined staples may be reduced in width for the purpose above described by portions being cut, nipped orY pinched therefrom.

The machine or apparatus constructed according to our invention comprises, first, means by which each of the legs or prongs of a continuity of conjoined staples may be brought in turn into position for having a portion nipped, cut or pinched therefrom. For this purpose we provide a guide, groove or slide, in which the continuity of conjoined staples to be operated upon is placed, and employ a pusher or lever which we so operate by means of suitable cams, cranks or eccentrics or other suitable means that at the required times it will advance into engagement with the continuity of conjoined staples and move such continuity of conjoined staples in the required direction and to the required extent by act-ing upon one of the legs or prongs of such continuity or conjoined staples and then withdraw from the said continuity of conjoined staples and return to the position which it first occupied in readiness for performing a similar series of operations, in which series of operationsit Will act upon the next leg or prong of the continuity7 of conjoined staples. In some cases instead of causing the pusher or lever above mentioned to advance and retire in the manner above mentioned we cause such pusher or lever to oscillate upon a suitable pivot, or in suitable bearings, and provide the said pusher or lever with a pawl which when movedin one direction will pass into engagement with a prong or leg.of the continuity of conjoined staples, and push or move i-t into position for having a portion cut, nipped or pinched therefrom. In the accompanying drawings fis the pusher or lever, which when arranged in the manner illustrated in Figs. 10, l2, I5 and I6, to which we will first refer, is mounted upon a stud g secured in a carriage or slide h mounted between suitable V guides formed in a table j secured to a suitable bed plate 7c. In brackets j secured to the tablej is mounted a shaft m upon which is mounted a pulleyn by means of which motion may be imparted to the working parts of the machine. Upon the shaft m are also mounted a loose pulley 0 and a flywheel 19. From the carriage or slide 7L projects an arm h upon which is mounted abowl 72,2 bymeans of which a cam q mounted upon theshaft m and made of suitable shape forces the carriage or slide h at the required times in the direction indicated by the arrow C through a distance such that the end f of the pusher or leverf will pass into engagement with the IIO continuity of conjoined staples D to be operated upon. To the table j is secureda guide r in which is formed a groove or channel r by which the continuity of conjoined staples D being operated upon is guided on its way to and from the parts by which itis operated upon. From the guide r parts are removed at E and F in order that the pusher or lever f and certain parts to be hereinafter mentioned may be able to act upon the continuity of conjoined staples passing along or resting in the guide r and in order that the said continuity of conjoined staples may be kept in position in the guide fr a part s projecting from a guides which will hereinafter-be more particularly mentioned, extends over the groove or channel fr' in the guide fr. At the side of the cam q is formed a projecting part or cam face q of suitable shape which acts at suitable times in the revolution of the shaft m against apart f2 projectingfrom a plate f3 secured by means of screws f4 to the pusher or leverf and thus at such times turns thepusher or leverf in the direction indicated by the arrow G. To the pusher or leverf is connected one end of a spring t which is connected at its otherend to a stud or screw if secured in the table j and tends to turn the pusher or lever f in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow G. Aspring u secured in position in any suitable manner presses at one end against the end of the recess in the tablet;l in which the slide or carriage h is mounted, and at the other end against the slide or carriage 7L and tends to force the slide or carriage h in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow C either against the cam q or against a plate v secured by set screws 'u' e to the tablej. In the tablej is secured a stud l7'5 through which passes a screw 3'2 capable of being secured in position in the stud .7'5 by means of the lock nutj. The end l7'4 of the screw t7'2 acts as a stop. to limit the movement of the pusher or leverf in thc direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow G. At a certain time in each revolution of the shaft m the cam q will act against the bowl h2 and push the slide or carriage 7L in the direction indicated by the arrow C and cause the end f of the pusher or lever f to pass through the opening formed for the purpose in the side of the guide r and into the space between two of the legs orprongs of the continuity ot' conjoined staples to be operatedv upon. Vhile the slide or carriage h is pushed forward in the direction indicated by the arrow C by the cam q the projecting part or face-cam q at the side of the cam q acts upon the projecting part f2 upon the plate]23 upon the pusher or leverfand turns such pusher or lever fin the direction indicated by the arrow G so that such pusher or lever f will cause the continuity of conjoined staples DM being operated upon to be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow H through a space equal to the distance between one leg or prong and the one next to it. By means of the cams q and q and rpusher or lever f the continuity of conjoined staples D is thus caused to advance, one leg or prong at a time, to the mechanism to be hereinafter described by whicl the portions to be removed from it are severed. The plate f3 may be adjusted in relation to the pusher or leverf by means of the screws f4 and the set screw f5 which is secured in position in the pusher or leverf by means of a lock nut f6. A simpler form of the above described means for causing the continuity of conjoined staples D being operated upon to be advanced so that the legs or prongs of such continuity of conjoined staples D will be successively presented to the mechanism by which portions are removed from such legs or prongs is illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19. In the arrangement shownin Figs. 18 and 19 the pusher or leverf is mounted upon a stud g which is secured in the table j instead of being secured in a slide moved upon such tabley by means of a cam q and consequently such pusher or lever f is capable only of being oscillated upon the stud g by means of a projecting part or cam face q upon the disk or cam Q secured upon the shaft m. The projecting part or cam face q acts in conjunction with a part f2 upon a plate f3 secured and adjusted upon one end of the pusher or lever fin a manner similar to that above described in reference to Figs. 10, 12,15 and 16. In the other end of the pusher or lever f is secured a stud f7 upon which is mounted a pawl f8 the end f5 of which acts upon one ot' the legs or prongs of the continuity of conjoined staples D being operated upon each time that the pusher or Ileverfis oscillated in the direction indicated by the arrow G by the projection or cam face q and so pushes the said continuity of conjoined staples D inthe direction indicated by the arrow H through a space equal to the dis tance between two adjacent legs or prongs of the continuity of conjoined staples D. Vthen the pusher or lever f is oscillated in the di- IOO rection opposite to that indicated by the ar- Y row G the pawl f8 slides or moves over the leg or prong of the continuity of conjoined staples D with which it comes in contact and does not move such continuityof conjoined staples D. In order to insure that whenever the pusher or lever fis oscillated in the direction indicated by the arrow G the pawl f8 shall become engaged with a leg or prong of the continuity of conjoined staples D and move the said continuity of conjoined staples D in the direction indicated by the arrow H a springfw secured upon the pusher or leverf by means of the nut j by means of which the stud f7 is secured in position in the lever f is caused to press slightly upon the upper surface of the pawl f8 so as to tend to turn such pawl f8 in the direction indicated by the arrow J. Then the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1S and 19 is employed, the guide 7 and the parts by means of which the continuity of conjoined staples D being operated IZO ' ated upon.

upon is retained in proper position must be j so formed and arranged that the pawl f8 may be able to act upon the 'continuity of coujoined staples when the pusher or lever f is oscillated in the' direction indicated by the arrow G.

The machine or apparatus constructed according to our invention comprises secondly, arrangements of guides and holders for' seizing andv moving the legs or prongs of the conjoined staples into position to have portions pinched, nipped or cut therefrom, and holding the said prongs or teeth in position while portions are pinched, nipped or cut therefrom, and arrangements by means of which the said guides and holders are caused to advance, guide, hold, retire from, and release, the legs or prongs of the continuity of conjoined staples. For these purposes we provide jaws, which are hinged together, or mounted upon a suitable slideor'part moved by means of a crank, cam or eccentric, acting by means of a suitable lever or rod or levers or rods, and when moved in one direction are caused to approach each other by sliding in contact with inclined guides or by the action of suitable links and on being moved in the` opposite direction are caused by a spring or other suitable means to separate. While moving in the direction in which they arel caused to approach each other the jaws above mentioned seize a leg or prong of the continuity of conjoined staples being operated upon and pushor'move such leg or prong into position and hold it so that it can be operated upon by the pinchers, nippers or cutters to be hereinafter described, and hold the said leg or prong in such position for the re-J quired time. When the required portion has been cut, nipped or pinched off the leg or prong, the jaws aforesaid are caused to release the said leg or prongand move back to their original position whence they are moved in a manner similar to that above described, to act upon the leg or prong to be next oper- The cams, cranks, or eccentrics are so arranged and disposed in relation to the means by which the lever or pusher referred to under the rst head'of this description of our` invention is operated, and to the mechanism tobe described under the third head of this description of our invention that the movements of the guides or holders above described will take place at the times required. ln the accompanying drawings fw w are the jaws above described. The jaws w tu are mounted upon a stud .fr secured in a slide y mounted in suitable guides y2 secured to the table j by means of set screws 13. A spring z mounted at each end in a hole or recess formed in each of the jaws w tends to press the jaws w w apart from each other: To the slide y are secured projecting parts 'y' in which is secured a stud or pin 'ya which is embraced by jaws formed upon the end of one arm 2 of a lever 2 mounted upon a pin 3 secured in jaws 4a formed upon -a stud 4 secured in one of the vertical supports of the table j. The lever 2 is provided with another arm 2b to which at its end is secured by screws 5 a plate 6 which may be adjusted in relation to the arm 2b by means of the screws 5 and a set screw 7 which isl provided with a lock nut 7a. A spring 8 which abuts at one end against the arm 2b of the lever 2 and at the other end against the support 7c upon which the table 7' is mounted tends to turn the lever 2 in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow K. In conjunction with the plate 6 acts the edge or periphery 9'u of a cam 9 mounted upon the shaft fm. The edge or periphery 9a' of the cam 9 is made of such form that during each revolution of the shaft m, the lever 2 shall be moved at the time required in the direction indicated by the arrow K into a certain position, and be kept in such position for the required period. The movements of the jaws w w are performed between guides s and 10, each of which is adjusted into positionupon the guides 'y2 upon the table j by meansof a set screw 11 which passes through a stud 12 secured in the table '7' and is providedwith a lock nut 11a. Each of the guides s and 10 may be secured to the table j by set screws 13 after being adjustedV into position by means of the set screw 1l employed in conjunction with it, and each of such guides s and 10 is provided with a part 14 which is so formed that its surface is so inclined to the path in which the slide y is moved by means of the cam 9 that when the slide y is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow L the curved inclined surface formed upon the jaw w adjacent to such guide s or 10 will arrive against and pass along the part 14 of the said guide s or 10 so that the parts w' w of the jaws w w will be caused to appreach each other while continuing to move in the direction indicated by the arrow Land seize and hold that one of the legs or prongs of the continuity of conjoined staples D which is opposite to the space between the parts w tu of the jaws w w when they are moved in the direction indicated by the arrow L. In order that the distance to which the legs or prongs to be held by the jaws w w may pass between such jaws w w, may be regulated, a projection 'Q02 is formed upon one of such jaws w w so that such projection to2 by arriving against each leg or prong to be held by the jaws LU w will prevent suchl leg or prong from passing farther between such jaws w w and in order that the projection wz may not prevent the jawsw wfrom being pressed together to the extent necessary for the legs or prongs, to be operated upon, to be'securely held, a notch w3is formed in the other jaw fw to receive the projection wz. It is very important that the legs or prongs when ready to be seized and held by the jaws w w shall be in proper position as regards their distance from the bottom of the groove r. We therefore form upon the ends of the guides s and 10 V guides 15, l5, and mount in such V IOC IIC

-the legs or v515,315 v t guides 15, 15, blocks 16, 16, each of which as 1s indicated in Fig. 2O is provided at its upper end with aplate 17 to which is connected one end of a spiral spring 18 connected at its v other end to the guide 15 in which the said block 16 is mounted. Thesprings 18 tend to draw the blocks 16 in the direction indicated by the. arrow M and cause them to press upon the points of the legs or prongs of the continuity of conjoined staples D resting in the guide fr and keep such continuity of con'- joined staples D in contact with the bottom of the groove or channel fr" formed in the gulde r. Ata certain part of each revolution of the shaft m the edge or periphery 9 of the cam 9 will act upon the lever 2 and turn it in the direction indicated by the arrow K so as to move the slide y and jaws w w in the directlon indicated by the arrow L. Before the extremities w w of the jaws w w arrive in line with the groove or channel fr formed in the guide of the pusher or lever 7L will have been caused to place one of the legs or prongs of the continuity of conjoined staples D resting in the said guide r into a position in which the jaws w w will advance, one at each side of it so that it will be nipped or held by such jaws w w when they are pressed together by being caused to move against the inclined part 14, 14, of the'guides s and 10. The projection 2v2 formed on one of the jaws w w by acting upon the leg orprong embraced by the jaws au w will press such leg or prong forward in the direction indicated by such leg or prong will be placed in position for belng acted upon by the pinchers, nippers, or cutters to be hereinafter described. After the said leg or prong has been acted upon by the pinchers, nippers, or cutters aforesaid the further revolution of the cam 9 w1ll allow the lever 2 to be moved in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow K by the spring S so that the said leg or prong will be released by the jaws w w.

The machine or apparatus constructed accordlng to our inventioncomprises thirdly, means for cutting, nipping or pinching from prongs of the continuity of conjoined staples the portions which are required to be removed therefrom. For this purpose we provide pinchers, nippers or cutters cons istlng in jaws which are provided with cutting edges of suitable form and are mounted upon a pivot or pivots or upon or in suitable guides and operated by means of a suitable cam, crank or eccentric, or cams, cranks, or eccentrics and a springer springs. We prefer to so operate the said jaws that the cutting edge with which one of such jaws is provided will never come into contact with the cutting edge with which the other of .such jaws is provided. In order that the parts to be pinched, nipped or cut from each leg or prong to be operated upon may be cleanly and completely removed therefrom we prefer that while the cutting edges of the said jaws are caused to commence to act upon a leg or the arrow L so that prong at the same time, the cutting edge of one of the said jaws shall be passed through more than half of the thickness of the leg or prong being operated upon and then Withdrawn while the cutting edge upon the other ofthe said jaws is in turn passed through more than half -of the said leg or prong. After the jaws aforesaid have been moved to cut, pinch or nip from a leg or prong of the continuity of conjoined staples the portion required to be removed therefrom the jaws aforesaid are so moved that the cutting edge with which one of such jaws is provided is moved away from the cutting edge upon the other of such jaws so that the portion removed from the leg or prong operated upon will be released. The cam, crank or eccentric or cams, cranks or eccentrics above mentioned in the description of this part of our'invention is or are so arranged and disposed that the movements of the jaws operated thereby will bear the requisite relations to the movements of the pusher or lever and the guides and holders described in reference tothe first and second heads'of this description of our invention. A .stud 19 passes through a block 19a inserted in a recess formed in the table and also passes through the tablej being secured therein by means of a nut 191. Upon the stud 19 are .mounted two jaws 20, 2l,each of which bears. upon the block 19L and is provided with a cutting edge 22 formed upon a part Secured to such jaw by means of screws 22a and adjusted into position thereon by means ofthe set screw 221), which is provided with a lock nut 22C. Upon each of the jaws 20, 2l is mounted a bowl or roller 24. The bowlsor rollers 24 bear against the sides of the cam 9 there being one of the bowls or rollers 24 at each side of the cani 9. A spring 25 is connected at one end to the jaw20 and at the other end to the jaw 2l and tends to draw the arms 202,. 21 of the jaws 20, 21, together, and so separate the cutting edges 22, 22, with which such jaw 20 21 are provided. Upon the faces 9b, 9, of the cam 9 are formed projections or cam surfaces 26, 27. The projection or cam surface 2G acts upon the bowl 24 which is mounted on the jaw 20, once during each revolution of the shaft m and causes such jaw 2O to turn in the direction indicated by the arrow N and so causes the cutting edge 22 upon such jaw 20 to act upon the leg or prong of the continuity of conjoined staples D being operated upon which may be presented to it. Vhen the revolution of the shaft m causes the projection or cam surface 26 to pass out of contact with the bowl or roller 24 upon the jaw 20 the spring 25 will cause the jaw 20 to turn in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow N and so cause the cutting edge 22 upon the said jaw 20 to be removed from the prong or Vleg upon which it has operated. In like manner the projection or cam surface 27 acts upon the bowl or roller 24 which is mounted upon the ICO IIO

jaw 21 once during each revolution of the shaft m and causes the jaw 21 to be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow O so that the cutting edge 22 upon such jaw 2l will be caused to act upon the leg or prong of the continuity of conjoined staples D being operated upon which is presented to it and when the revolution of the shaft fm causes the projection or cam surface 27 to pass out of contact with the bowl or roller 24 upon the jaw 21 the spring 25 will cause the jaw 21 to turn in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow O and so cause the cutting edge 22 upon the said jaw 2l to be removed from the prong or leg upon which it has operated. In order that the portion which it is required to remove from each prong or leg of the continuity of conjoined staples being operated upon may be completely severed therefrom, we so form the projections or cam surfaces 26, 27 that the cutting edge 22 upon each of thejaws 20, 2l will be caused to pass more than half way through each leg or prong operated upon and in order that the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 21 may never come into contact with the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 2O We so form the projection or cam surface 26 and the projection or cam surface 27 and so place them in relation to each other that while the cutting edges 22 upon both of the jaws 20,21 commence to act together upon the prong or leg of the continuity of conjoined staples D being operated upon the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 2O will be partially withdrawn from the leg or prong upon which it has been caused to operate before the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 2 l is so far advanced into the said leg or'prong as to pass within thelimits of the stroke of the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 20. The diagram Fig. 17 serves to show the manner in which the cutting edges 22 upon the jaws 20, 21, by their two-fold motion completely sever from the continuity of conjoined staples D being operated upon the portions to be removed from the prongs or legs of such continuity of conjoined staples D. In Fig. 17 it is shown that the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 2O is `caused to pass more than half way through the prong or leg D being operated upon while the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 21 is only caused to enter the said prong or leg D. As the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 2O is Withdrawn from the prong or leg D being operated upon the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 21 is in turn caused to pass more than half Way through the said prong or leg D. The cuts made in the said prongor leg D by the two cutting edges 22 being thus caused to communicate, the portion D2 to be removed from such prong or leg D will be completely severed therefrom. Upon the shaft m is mounted a pulley 28 which by means of a band which is not shown in the drawings and a pulley 29 communicates rotary motion to a shaft 30 mounted in bearings formed in brackets 31, 32 secured to the bed 7c upon which the table j is mounted. .In the brackets 31 is mounted a shaft 33 which is free to revolve in the said brackets 3l. Upon the shaft 33 is mounted a drum 34 on whichr the continuity of conjoined staples l.) being operated upon mayfvbe wound after a length of such continuity of conjoined staples D sufficient to extend from the place where the prongs or teeth are operated upon to the winding drum 34, has been operated upon. The winding drum 34 is provided with a ratchet wheel 35 into which engages a pawl 36 which is mounted loosely upon the shaft 30 and serves to prevent the ratchet wheel 35 from being turned in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow P. A lever 37 is mounted loosely upon the shaft 33 upon which the Winding drum 34 is mounted, and upon such lever 37 is mounted a pawl 381.` When the lever 37 is turned in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow P the pawl 33a passes over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 35 without acting thereon, but when such lever 37 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow P the pawl 38 passes into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 35. Upon the shaft 30 is mounted a projection or cam 38 which in each revolution of the shaft 30 acts upon a projection 37 upon the lever 37 and turns it in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow I). The lever 37 is connected to one end of a spring 39 which is secured to one of the brackets 3l secured to the bed 7c and tends to turn the lever 37 in loo the direction indicated by the arrow P and so -f to turn the ratchet wheel 35 and drum 34 in the direction indicated by the arrow P.

Having thus described the construction and arrangement of the machine constructed according to our invention, we will now proceed to describe the manner in which the said machine is caused to operate upon the continuity of conjoined staples from the prongs or legs of which portions are to be removed for the purpose above described. As the cutting edges'22, -22 with Which the jaws 20, 2l are provided, will only make a cut in the direction of the height of each leg or prong operated upon, they cannot be employed to entirely sever from each leg lor prong operated upon, the portion to be removed therefrom. In order therefore to enable the cut made by the cutting edges 22 in each leg or prong to completely sever from each leg or prong the portion to be removed therefrom, we cause a cut or nick I)3 to 4be formed near the root of each leg or prong where it is intended' that the portion to. be removed from such leg or prong shall terminate as is indicated in Figs. 8 and 9. We find that the Acut or nick D3 in each leg or prong may very conveniently be formed by passing the continuity of conjoined staples to be operated upon through a fixed guide into a space in which projects a portion of the circumference of a circular saw mounted and driven in any mannerwhich may be suit- IIO IZO

able. When any desired length of a continuity of conjoined staples with a nick or cut formed in each leg or prong has been prepared and it is desired to remove from each leg or prong thereof the portion which is to be removed therefrom, the said length of the continuity of conjoined staples is coiled upon a drum or otherwise arranged so as to be capable of being passed to the machine above described and illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings, and drawn forward thereby without becoming twisted or otherwise injured. Then one end of the said length of the continuity of conjoined staples is passed into the groove or channel fr of the guide r 1n such position that the portions D4 by which each prong or leg of the continuity of conjoined staples is connected to the prongs or legs adjacent to it will be in Contact with the bottom of the said groove or channel r and that the nick or cut D3 formed in each leg or prong of the said continuity of conjoined staples will, while such leg or prong is passing along the groove or channel o", be directed in thedirection indicated by the arrow Q toward the front of the machine as is clearly indicated 1n Figs. 10 and 15. Then the said end of the continuity of conjoined staplesis passed along the groove or channel r until one leg or prong of such continuity of conjoined staples has been placed in a position such that the pusher or leverfof the pawlf8 carried thereby in case the arrangement of pusher or lever f illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 is employed can pass into engagement with the said leg or prong. Rotary motion is then communicated to the shaft m and the pusher or leverf is caused to move the continuity of conjoined staples D aforesaid forward in the direction indicated by the arrow H, one leg or prong at a time. As soon as a leg or prong of the said continuity of conjoined staples has been placed opposite to the space between the jaws w w the action of the cam 9 will cause the jaws w w to advance and embrace such leg or prong, and causing such jaws w w to be pressed together by the inclined parts 14, 14 of the guides s and lO will also press the said leg or prong forward in the direction indicated by the arrow L so that it will project to the required extent across the paths of the cutting edges 22, 22 provided upon the jaws 20, 21. Then the jaws w w have been caused to hold a leg or prong of the continuity of conjoined staples D the pusher or leverf is by the cam q allowed to be moved by the action of the springs u t provided for the purpose, into position to act upon the leg or prong next to that upon which it last acted. While the leg or prong aforesaid is held and pressed forward by the jaws w w as above described, the projecting parts or cam surfaces 26, 27 upon the cam 9 will act upon the jaws 2O and 2l so that the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 2O will pass through more than half of the thickness of the prong or leg held bythe jaws tu w and the cutting edge 22 upon the jaw 21 will just enter such prong or leg and as the jaw 2O is allowed by the projecting part or cam surface 26 upon the cam 9 to be turned by the spring 25 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow N the projecting part or cam surface 27 upon the cam 9 will further act upon the jaw 21 and cause the cutting edge 22 provided upon such jaw 21 to also pass through more than half of the thickness of the leg or prong held by the jaws tu vw and so completely sever from the said leg or prong the portion which it is desired shall be removed therefrom, for the purpose of carrying our above described improvements in conjoined staples into effect. After the said portion has been removed from the said leg or prong, the jaw 21 will be allowed by the projecting part or cam surface 27 upon the cam 9 to be turned by the spring 25 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow O so that the cutting edge 22 upon the said jaw 21 will be withdrawn from the leg or prong which has been operated upon. The continued revolution of the cam 9 then allows the spring 8 to turn the lever2 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow K and move the jaws w w in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow L so that the spring z will be allowed to cause such jaws to w to release the prong or leg which has been operated upon. Then the continued revolution of the cam q will cause the pusher or lever f to move another leg or prong of the continuity of conjoined staples D into position to be operated upon in a manner similar to that above described and, af-

lterward, the above described series of operations is continued until all or nearly all of the prongs or legsof the prepared length of the continuity ot' conjoined staples have been operated upon or until the pusher or lever f is unable to further act upon the said continuity of conjoined staples. Vthen the portion of the continuity of conjoined staples upon the legs or prongs of which the cutting edges 22 upon the jaws 20, 21 have acted is sufficientlylong to extend to the drum 34: the end of such continuity of conjoined staples is connected to the said drum 34; and the revolution of the shaft 30 causing the cam 38 to turn the lever 37 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow P and then allowing the spring 39 to turn such lever 37 in the direction indicated by the arrow P the continuity of conjoined staples will be wound upon the drum 34: as it is released by the jaws w to and pushed forward by the pusher or leverf.

It is obvious that many of the details of the machine above described are susceptible of variation for instance, the pusher or lever f may be arranged and caused to act either in the manner illustrated in Figs. 10, 12, 15, and 16 or in the manner illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19. rIhe arrangement of pusher or lever f illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 is preferable to that illustrated in Figs. 10, 12, 15

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and 16 for the reason that the pawl f8 illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 may veryreadly be caused to act upon that leg or prong of the continuity of conjoined staples which is next to be held by the jaws w w and thus slight irregularities in the distances between the legs or prongs of the continuity ot' conjoined staples are prevented from causing inaccuracy 1n the placing of the legs or prongs to be operated upon.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for reducing in width the legs o'r prongs ot conjoined staples, the combination of a guide r to receive the continuity of the conjoined staples being operated upon, a pusher or leverf and a pivotg for supporting the same and a cam q and spring t for turning the same for advancing the conjoined staples one leg or prong at a time, jaws w w and a block y and stud :n for supporting the same and cam 9 for operating the jaws w tu and guides s and 10 provided with inclined surfaces 14, 14 for guiding the said jaws while selzlng and holding the leg or prong to be operated upon, jaws 20, 21 each provided with a cutting edge 22, and side cams 26 and 27 for operating the jaws 2O and 2l,all constructed, arranged, employed and operating substantlally in the manner hereinbefore described. t 2. In a machine or apparatus for reducing 1n width the legs or prongs of conjoined staples, the hereinbefore described means for causing the continuity of the conjoined staples being operated upon to be advanced one prong or leg at a time, saidmeans consisting in the combination of a pusher or lever f, a-

pivot g for supporting the said lever or pusher, a cam g and a spring t for turning the said lever or pusher, a longitudinally moving part h carrying the said pivot and a cam q and a spring u for producing the longitudinal movement of the said part h, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.

3. In a machine or apparatus for reducing in Width the legs or prongs of conjoined staples, the hereinbefore described means for causing the continuity of the conjoined staples being operated upon to be advanced one prong or leg at a time, which means consist in a leverfprovided with a finger or pawl f8 a pivot g for supporting said lever, a cam q and a spring t for turning said lever on said pivot and a spring flo for producing the engagement of said finger or pawl f8 with' the continuity of the conjoined staples when the said lever and pawl move in one direction all in combination substantiallyas described.

4. In a machine or apparatus for reducing in Width. the legs or prongs of conjoined ystaples, the hereinbefore described means for seizing and moving the legs or prongs of the continuity of the conjoined staples being operated upon, into position to have portions pinched, nipped or cut therefrom and holding the said legs or prongs in position While portions are pinched, nipped or cut therefrom, which means consist in the jaws w w, the slide Q/ and a stud a: secured therein upon which the said jaws are mounted, the guides s and l0 provided with inclined surfaces (14) (14) for guiding said jaws, the lever 2 for moving said slide, and the cam 9 and spring for moving the said lever, all in combination substantially in the manner hereinbefore described. y

WILLIAM GREAVES. JOSEPH WARDLE.

Witnesses*= HOWARD CHEETHAM, 1S Saint Anns Street, llfomchester, England.

ERNEST DUTCH, 97 Dickenson Rd., Rusholme, Manchester. 

